Eight individuals were successfully rescued following a seaplane’s hard landing in New York City’s East River on a recent Sunday afternoon. The incident led to a rapid response from firefighters as the aircraft descended near the city’s sole seaplane terminal, according to officials.
The New York City Fire Department reported receiving a call at 12:01 p.m. regarding a plane in the water close to the NY Skyport at East 23rd Street and FDR Drive in Manhattan. Upon arrival, fire crews discovered the seaplane upright in the water. FDNY units quickly evacuated all eight individuals from the plane prior to its tow back to a nearby dock.
FDNY officials indicated that two civilians experienced minor injuries, yet declined medical treatment at the scene. No further injuries have been reported at this time.
Emergency teams responded quickly following a seaplane’s hard landing in New York City’s East River near the NY Skyport on July 5, 2026. All eight passengers were successfully rescued.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified the craft as a Kodiak 100 seaplane. A spokesperson announced that the pilot executed a hard landing around noon local time, resulting in a snapped wing strut. The aircraft departed from East Hampton Airport on Long Island destined for the Skyport seaplane terminal in Manhattan.
Located on Manhattan’s East Side, NY Skyport serves scheduled and charter flights to various destinations throughout the Northeast. The FAA noted that the seaplane, registered as N726SH, carried eight people. The agency is launching an investigation into the incident and acknowledges that the information released is preliminary.
Audio recordings from air traffic control documented the moments around the incident, capturing the pilot’s mayday call before the water landing. Separate recordings also noted a New York City Police Department helicopter responding to the report of a plane in the water.
Firefighting and marine units quickly mobilized after a seaplane’s descent into the East River near the NY Skyport on July 5, 2026, resulting in two minor injuries.
Authorities have yet to identify the pilot or passengers, and details on the cause of the hard landing remain unclear. Video captured at the scene showed first responders surrounding the upright seaplane as rescue operations were underway. Additional footage displayed the plane being towed back to the dock after all aboard were safely evacuated.
The event triggered a significant emergency presence at the East River waterfront, as FDNY marine units and first responders assembled in the region. Fox News Digital has attempted to gather more details by reaching out to the New York City Police Department.
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